The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-09-15

celved his money from Newark, for he
failed to redeem that ticket which rep
resented a watch he would not sell for
five hundred dollars. The victim then
started to New York and called at the
pawnbroker's Office. He laid the ticket
down on the counter. saying.
''Let me see what sort OF a watch
that is?''
"a Hebrewish young man, with inkv
fingers and scores of pins stuck in the
lapel of his vest, turned the ticket
face downward and wrote some hero
glyphics on its back. t -
"Twenty-one eighty-five." he said.
without moving muscle.
"Howp"
"Twenty-one eighty-fve."
:'But l only want to look at it.''
you'll have to redeem it, then, an
yer can put it in again. Twenty-one
eighty-five."
The victimtook moment to think. II
looked all fair and above board, ANYHOW.
The fiend behind the counter had turned
away and was actively engaged in try
ing to assure young man that he must
be crazy for asking for loan of four
dollars on two dollar fiddle, and by
the time the owner of the fiddle had
agreed to compromise on loan of one
dollar, the Brooklyn man had counted
out the .'twenty-one eighty-6ve."' He
felt assured that the watch must be
worth great deal more than $21.85, if
the young gentleman who counted out
money SO sparingly would only loan
one dollar on fiddle which the owner
pledged his sacred honor cost ten times
that sum. When the $21. IS had changed
hands. the pawnbroker's assistant
opened safe and after a minutes
rummaging produced the watch. care
fully wrapped around with brown
paper. The watch was a trumpery
metal one, thinly gold plated, and
worth in store to sell probably about
two dollars.
Il rather think I'll leave this here
and take my twenty dollars back" said
the Brooklyn man after a short ex-
animation. '.The watch is not mine,
but as Iloaned some money on the
ticket l wanted to see if it was
genuine
The young man opened the watch
and examined it critically.
''Say, what er yer givin' usP This
thing amt worth q quarter here, it's
only metal"
"Well. / just paid you $21.S5 for it. ="
''Git ouwt! You're tryin' to ring the
changes on us. That racket's played
OUT
What do you meanp Do you
dare"
20, yer can't bluff us. We'se useter
them tricks here. I'll bet dollar as
you've got the other gold watch in yer
pocket"
L" Then he stopped. He saw
that he was in peculiar position, for
he had his own gold watch in his pocket,
and this fact might strengthen the ac-
cusation that he was .'ringing the
changes"
tDo you refuse to return me the
twenty dollars paid you?' he asked.
very deliberately.
Certainly. I'll loan yer half case
on that thing. May be as I'll loan yer
the twenty cases ON the other watch in
yer pocket. "
Then I'll put the matter in the
hands of the police" said the Brooklyn
man, as he walked out.
20, you make me tired"
The victim walked to the bridge a
much sadder and wiser man. His ac-
count in the matter stood thus:
Loaned to the poor young man.. $500
Car fare and sundries. Observation-Disclosures. 25
"Twenty-one eighty five. 81 .S5
Thus the ticket fakir was three dol
lars in and the boss or confederate had
sold a trumpery two dollar watch for
$21.85. But Nemesis was stirring and
on the track of this particular fakir.
AS the Brooklyn man reached the
Brooklyn side of the bridge who should
he stumble across but that unfortunate
young man, who appeared to be still
trying to raise the necessary funds for
meal. He tried very hard to deny his
identity, but at this stage newspaper
man chanced along, and the victim
begged him to hunt somewhere for a
uolice officer.
stop a minute. Go easy, boss, "
said the fellow. Take it cool, an I'll
fix it up for you"
After some parleying he agreed to
accompany the party back to New
York and get the matter Strengthened
out conditionally upon 'being let
alone"
'T'll show you how it's DONE" he be-
gan. when closely questioned. Its a
pretty good racket, but we have to
change about rather quick. for we get
dropped ON. You see the pawnbroker's $
clerk. and sometimes the pawnbrokers
do it themselves. fake up the tickets
and give them to us. We sell them,
n - Il c. ~